Baker Mayfield Sends a Message: After Loss to Saints, It's Gut-Check Time for the Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a golden opportunity on Sunday. Three games.
Win them, and the NFC South crown would be theirs. Instead, they walked off their home field with a 24-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints-and a whole lot more questions than answers.
This wasn’t just a missed opportunity. It was a gut punch.
New Orleans came into Raymond James Stadium and handed the Bucs a humbling loss, one that not only tightened the race in the NFC South but also exposed some of the same issues that have plagued Tampa Bay all season. Now, with four games left, the Bucs are tied with the Panthers atop the division and staring down a stretch run that will test every ounce of their resilience.
“We Should Be Frustrated” - Mayfield Doesn’t Hold Back
After the game, Baker Mayfield didn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s never been one to dance around the truth, and Sunday was no different.
“We should be frustrated,” Mayfield said. “We should take it out [on the Falcons] on Thursday night.”
That’s not just venting. That’s a challenge-one aimed squarely at the locker room.
The Bucs didn’t just lose to the Saints; they beat themselves. Missed opportunities, lack of execution, and a general sense of flatness defined the afternoon.
And Mayfield, who’s been trying to lead this team through the highs and lows of a rollercoaster season, made it clear: enough is enough.
Control Still in Their Hands-But for How Long?
Here’s the silver lining: the Bucs still control their own destiny. Win the next three games-including a pivotal one against Carolina-and they’ll lock up the division before Week 18. But that’s easier said than done, especially for a team that’s struggled to stay out of its own way.
Sunday’s loss wasn’t just about the standings. It was about momentum-or the lack of it.
The Bucs had a chance to create some separation and build confidence heading into the final stretch. Instead, they’re back in a dogfight with a Panthers team that’s found its footing late in the season.
Falcons on Deck: Must-Win, Must-Respond
Next up? A Thursday night primetime matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
On paper, it should be a bounce-back opportunity. Atlanta is coming off a brutal 28-point loss at home to the Seahawks, their coach Raheem Morris is under pressure, and the team looks like it’s spiraling.
But here’s the thing: nothing about this Bucs season has followed the script.
Week 1’s narrow win over the Falcons required some divine intervention, and that was when Atlanta was in better shape than they are now. Add in the emotional layer-Raheem Morris returning to face his old team-and the unpredictability of a primetime game, and you’ve got a matchup that’s far from a guaranteed win.
Oh, and the Bucs will be wearing their creamsicle throwbacks. Those are always a vibe, but they won’t mean much if the performance doesn’t match the look.
Playoff Picture Still in Sight, But Stakes Are Rising
If Tampa Bay stumbles again on Thursday, the playoff conversation gets murky. Yes, mathematically they’d still be alive. But the bigger question becomes: would it even matter?
This is a team that barely scraped by the Cardinals and just got outplayed by the Saints. Another letdown against the Falcons would raise serious doubts about whether this group is built for January football.
That’s what makes Mayfield’s message so important. He’s not just calling for frustration-he’s calling for urgency.
For accountability. For a response that shows this team still has fight left in it.
Help on the Way-But It Has to Matter
There is some help coming. Mike Evans and rookie Jalen McMillan are expected back soon-either Thursday or in the following week against Carolina.
Their return would be a major boost for an offense that’s struggled to find rhythm in recent weeks. But reinforcements only matter if the foundation is solid, and right now, that’s the part that’s in question.
The Bucs don’t need to be perfect on Thursday. But they do need to show some fire.
Some grit. Something that says they heard their quarterback loud and clear and are ready to respond.
Because if they don’t? The NFC South might slip away, and with it, the belief that this team is ready for the next step.